U.S. patent application number 16/095951 was filed with the patent office on 2019-05-16 for dust stop device for sealed kneader.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.). The applicant listed for this patent is KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD.). Invention is credited to Hikaru HAMADA, Naofumi KANEI, Koichi MIYAKE.
Application Number | 20190143563 16/095951 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60267070 |
Filed Date | 2019-05-16 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190143563 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KANEI; Naofumi ; et
al. |
May 16, 2019 |
DUST STOP DEVICE FOR SEALED KNEADER
Abstract
Provided is a dust stop device for a sealed kneader, the device
being capable of excellent supply of lubricating oil. The sealed
kneader includes a pair of rotors and a supporting member. The dust
stop device includes a rotating ring attached to each rotor and a
stationary ring attached to the supporting member. Both the rings
have respective contact surfaces which make surface contact with
each other. The stationary ring has a lubricating-oil supply
portion with a through-hole. A part of the through-hole, the part
including a part opened in the contact surface, is a long hole
extending along a circumferential direction of rotation of the
rotating ring.
Inventors: |
KANEI; Naofumi;
(Takasago-shi, Hyogo, JP) ; MIYAKE; Koichi;
(Takasago-shi, Hyogo, JP) ; HAMADA; Hikaru;
(Takasago-shi, Hyogo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO (KOBE STEEL, LTD.) |
Kobe-shi, Hyogo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
(Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
Kobe-shi, Hyogo
JP
|
Family ID: |
60267070 |
Appl. No.: |
16/095951 |
Filed: |
April 27, 2017 |
PCT Filed: |
April 27, 2017 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2017/016724 |
371 Date: |
October 24, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
366/97 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29B 7/7495 20130101;
B01F 15/00 20130101; B29B 7/22 20130101; B01F 2015/00084 20130101;
B29B 7/183 20130101; B01F 7/047 20130101; B29B 7/186 20130101; B01F
7/04 20130101; B01F 2215/0049 20130101; F16J 15/3404 20130101; B01F
2015/00116 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B29B 7/22 20060101
B29B007/22; B01F 7/04 20060101 B01F007/04; B29B 7/18 20060101
B29B007/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 13, 2016 |
JP |
2016-096913 |
Claims
1. A dust stop device for a sealed kneader, the dust stop device
being provided in a sealed kneader having a pair of rotors and a
support member, the pair of rotors being disposed adjacent to each
other with a predetermined gap therebetween so as to have
respective axes parallel to each other and being capable of
rotating in opposite directions to each other, the supporting
member including a housing that houses the pair of rotors and
supporting axial end portions of the pair of rotors rotatably, the
dust stop device being interposed between each rotor and the
supporting member to prevent a matter kneaded by the pair of rotors
from leaking to an outside of the supporting member, the dust stop
device comprising: a rotating ring attached to the rotor so as to
rotate with the rotor; and a stationary ring attached to the
supporting member, wherein: the stationary ring and the rotating
ring have respective contact surfaces which make surface contact
with each other while being opposed to each other; the stationary
ring has a lubricating-oil supply portion which supplies
lubricating oil to the respective contact surfaces of the
stationary ring and the rotating ring; the lubricating-oil supply
portion has a through-hole which provides communication between the
contact surface of the stationary ring and a surface opposite to
the contact surface; and at least a part of the through-hole, the
part including an opening in the contact surface, is a long hole
which extends along a circumferential direction of rotation of the
rotating ring, the long hole having a longitudinal direction that
is coincident with a rotation tangent direction of the rotating
ring or inclined to the rotation tangent direction such that the
long hole is displaced inward in a radial direction of the rotation
of the rotating ring with an advance in a rotational direction of
the rotating ring, the rotation tangent direction being a direction
of a tangent to the rotational direction of the rotating ring at an
intermediate position of the long hole with respect to the
longitudinal direction of the long hole.
2. The dust stop device for a sealed kneader according to claim 1,
wherein the longitudinal direction of the long hole is inclined to
the rotation tangent direction such that the long hole is displaced
inwardly in the radial direction of the rotation of the rotating
ring with an advance in the rotation direction of the rotating
ring.
3. The dust stop device for a sealed kneader according to claim 2,
wherein the position at which the lubricating oil is supplied to
the lubricating-oil supply portion is a position upstream of the
intermediate position in the length direction of the long hole, in
the rotation direction of the rotating ring.
4. The dust stop device for a sealed kneader according to claim 1,
wherein the longitudinal direction of the long hole constituting
the lubricating-oil supply portion is coincident with the rotation
tangent direction of the rotating ring at the intermediate position
in the longitudinal direction of the long hole.
5. The dust stop device for a sealed kneader according to claim 1,
wherein the long hole of the lubricating-oil supply portion has a
shape selected from a straight-shape, an arc-shape, a
boomerang-shape, and an L-shape.
6. A sealed kneader comprising: a pair of rotors disposed adjacent
to each other with a predetermined gap therebetween so as to have
respective axes parallel to each other and being capable of
rotating in opposite directions to each other; a supporting member
including a housing that houses the pair of rotors and supporting
axially opposite end portions of the pair of rotors rotatably; and
the dust stop device according to claim 1, the device being
interposed between each rotor and the supporting member to prevent
a matter kneaded by the pair of rotors from leaking to an outside
of the supporting member.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a dust stop device provided
in a sealed kneader to prevent a matter to be kneaded in the sealed
kneader from leak to the outside of the sealed kneader.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] There is a conventionally known batch-type sealed kneader
for kneading a material to be kneaded such as rubber, plastic, or
the like, the kneader including a housing enclosing a kneading
chamber and a pair of rotors provided in the housing and rotatably
supported by the housing. The pair of rotors are rotated to thereby
knead a material to be kneaded such as rubber, plastic, or the like
which is pressed into the kneading chamber. The matter thus having
been brought into desired kneaded state is discharged to the
outside of the housing.
[0003] The housing enclosing the kneading chamber (hollow portion)
is supported by frame members disposed on axial both sides thereof.
Each of the paired rotors has a main body housed in the kneading
chamber to knead a material to be kneaded and a pair of shaft
portions axially protruding from opposite end surfaces of the main
body, the pair of shaft portions further protruding to the outside
beyond the frame members.
[0004] To allow the main body of each of the rotors to rotate in
the kneading chamber, a predetermined gap is given between the end
surface of the main body and the frame member. The kneading chamber
is communicated with the outside through the gap. This generates a
possibility that the matter to be kneaded in the kneading chamber
leaks out through the gap.
[0005] To prevent the leak, a conventional sealed kneader further
includes a dust stop device which prevents a kneaded matter in a
kneading chamber from leaking outside. The dust stop device
includes a member which makes respective surface contacts with the
main body of the rotor and the frame member so as to seal the
kneading chamber. The rotation of the main body, therefore,
involves a sliding movement of the contact surface of the member in
contact with the main body. The sliding movement between the
contact surface of the member and the contact surface of the main
body of the rotor causes frictional force, which may heavily heat
and/or abrade the dust stop device, if being large. This causes the
necessity for supply of lubricating oil between the contact
surfaces to reducing the frictional force.
[0006] Examples of such a dust stop device to which lubricating oil
can be supplied are disclosed in the following Patent Document 1
and Patent Document 2.
[0007] The Patent Document 1 (JP S61-29467 Y2) discloses a crimping
dust stop assembly for a kneader, the crimping dust stop assembly
including an annular end plate which forms a flange end surface of
a rotor to take in a rotor shaft, and an annular dust stop ring
which is interposed between an outer circumference surface of the
rotor shaft and an inner circumference of the end plate and pressed
to the flange end surface through a yoke to be prevented from
rotation. The dust stop ring is divided into a first ring and a
second ring which are assembled so as to allow respective
divisional end surfaces thereof to be joined and separated freely.
Each of the first ring and the second ring has an outer
circumference surface formed with a conductive jacket allowing a
cooling water to be circumferentially flowed therein. The dust stop
assembly further includes a communication pipe providing
communication between the conductive jackets of the first and
second rings, a cooling water supply pipe connected to one of the
conductive jackets, and a cooling water discharge pipe connected to
the other conductive jacket. Each of the first and second rings is
formed with an axial lubricant hole for supplying lubricating oil
to respective sliding contact parts of the first and second rings
therethrough, the sliding contact parts making contact with the
flange end surface.
[0008] Patent document 2 (JP H02-32014 B2) discloses a device
formed of synthetic resin, rubber, etc. and constituted to
shaft-seal a rotor shaft of a kneader. In the kneader, a narrow gap
is maintained between an end plate and the rotor shaft. The device
includes a seal ring movable along the rotor shaft, an O-ring
embedded between the seal ring and the rotor shaft, and a spring
which presses the seal ring against the end plate. The seal ring is
fabricated from a material having self-lubricating properties.
[0009] Each of the dust stop devices disclosed in the Patent
Documents 1 and 2 includes an annular stationary ring provided in a
housing side, and an annular rotating ring which rotates along with
a main body of a rotor. The stationary ring and the rotating ring
have respective contact surfaces which make surface contact with
each other so as to seal a kneading chamber, and the contact
surfaces (seal surfaces) slide relatively to each other when the
rotor is rotated. To reduce abrasion of thus sliding two rings,
lubricating oil is supplied between the contact surfaces through
lubricating-oil supply portion (supply port) provided in the
stationary ring.
[0010] There is, however, a possibility that the rotation of the
rotor for kneading hinders the lubricating oil from being
excellently supplied to the entire region of the contact surfaces.
Specifically, the rotation of the rotor for kneading causes
centrifugal force, which increases the amount of lubricating oil
moving radially outward on the contact surface of the rotating
ring, thereby reducing the amount of lubricating oil supplied
radially inward. This may promote abrasions or burns of both the
rings to cause the dust stop device to be damaged.
CITATION LIST
Patent Documents
[0011] Patent Document 1: JP S61-29467 Y2
[0012] Patent Document 2: JP H02-32014 B2
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0013] The object of the present invention is to provide a dust
stop device for a sealed kneader, the device including a stationary
ring and a rotating ring which have respective contact surfaces
making contact with each other and being capable of excellent
supply of lubricating oil to the contact surfaces.
[0014] Provided is a dust stop device provided in a batch-type
sealed kneader including a pair of rotors and a support member, the
pair of rotors disposed adjacent to each other with a predetermined
gap therebetween so as to have respective axes parallel to each
other and being capable of rotating in opposite directions to each
other, the supporting member including a housing that houses the
pair of rotors and rotatably supporting axially opposite end
portions of each of the pair of rotors, the dust stop device being
interposed between each rotor and the supporting member to prevent
a matter kneaded by the pair of rotors from leaking outside, the
dust stop device including a rotating ring attached to the rotor so
as to rotate with the rotor and a stationary ring attached to the
supporting member. The stationary ring and the rotating ring have
respective contact surfaces which make surface contact with each
other while being opposed to each other. The stationary ring has a
lubricating-oil supply portion which supplies lubricating oil to
the respective contact surfaces of the stationary ring and the
rotating ring. The lubricating-oil supply portion has a
through-hole which provides communication between the contact
surface of the stationary ring and a surface opposite to the
contact surface. At least a part of the through-hole, the part
including an opening in the contact surface, is a long hole which
extends along a circumferential direction of rotation of the
rotating ring. The long hole has a longitudinal direction that is
coincident with a rotation tangent direction of the rotating ring
or inclined to the rotation tangent direction such that the long
hole is displaced inward in a radial direction of the rotation of
the rotating ring with an advance in a rotational direction of the
rotating ring, the rotation tangent direction being a direction of
a tangent to the rotational direction of the rotating ring at an
intermediate position of the long hole with respect to the
longitudinal direction of the long hole.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a sectional plan view schematically showing a
structure of a kneading portion of a sealed kneader according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view showing structures of a dust
stop device and surroundings of the dust stop device of the sealed
kneader shown in FIG. 1, the view showing structures of a part
enclosed in a circle II and surroundings of the part in FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view showing an expansion of the
dust stop device, the view showing an expansion of the part
enclosed in the circle II;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a front view of a stationary ring constituting the
dust stop device, the view showing a first example of a
lubricating-oil supply portion provided in the stationary ring;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a front view of a stationary ring constituting the
dust stop device, the view showing a second example of a
lubricating-oil supply portion provided in the stationary ring;
and
[0020] FIG. 6 is a view showing a relation between the amount of
lubricating oil supplied to a contact surface by the
lubricating-oil supply portion and the amount of abrasion of the
dust stop device.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0021] There will be described below an embodiment of the present
invention with reference to the drawings. The embodiment to be
described below is one specific example of the present invention,
and the specific example is not construed to limit a constitution
of the present invention. Accordingly, a technical scope of the
present invention is not limited to the disclosure on the present
embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 1 is a sectional plan view showing a batch-type sealed
kneader 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The
left side of the sheet of FIG. 1 corresponds to the "driving side"
of the sealed kneader 1 and the right side of the sheet corresponds
to the "counter driving side" of the sealed kneader 1. In FIG. 1,
which is a sectional plan view, an upper side of the sheet of FIG.
1 corresponds to the "left side in a width direction" of the sealed
kneader 1, and the lower side of the sheet corresponds to the
"right side in the width direction" of the sealed kneader 1. The
front side in a normal direction on the sheet of FIG. 1 corresponds
to the "upper side" of the sealed kneader 1 and the rear side in
the normal line direction corresponds to a "lower side".
[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, the sealed kneader 1 includes a pair of
rotors 4, a housing 3, and a pair of supporting frames 9A and 9B.
The paired rotors 4 are disposed adjacent to each other with a
predetermined gap therebetween in a right and left direction so as
to have respective axes parallel to each other. The housing 3
encloses a kneading chamber 2 and houses the pair of rotors 4 in
the kneading chamber 2. The paired supporting frames 9 are disposed
on axial both sides of the housing 3 and constitutes a supporting
member in association with the housing 3, the supporting member
supporting the pair of rotors 4 rotatably. The paired rotors 4
kneads a material to be kneaded such as rubber, plastic, or the
like pressed in the kneading chamber 2 through their rotations in
respective directions opposite to each other and discharge the
kneaded matter brought thereby into a desired kneaded state to the
outside of the housing 3.
[0024] Each of the paired rotors 4 includes a main body 5 which
kneads a material to be kneaded and a pair of shaft portions 6A and
6B protruding axially of the main body 5 from opposite end surfaces
of the main body. The main body 5 and pair of shaft portions 6A and
6B are integrally formed. The shaft portions 6A and 6B, which
correspond to the axially opposite end portions of each rotor 4,
are rotatably supported in the housing 3 through respective
bearings 8. The main body 5 is rotatable together with the shaft
portion 6 thus supported through the bearing 8.
[0025] Each of the main body 5 has an outer circumference surface
formed with a blade 7 for kneading a material to be kneaded. The
blade 7 of each of the rotor 4 has a shape twisted relatively to an
axis direction (axial line). Specifically, in order to sufficiently
knead a material to be kneaded which is pressed into the kneading
chamber 2, the shape of the blade 7 is set so as to make the
direction of the axial flow of the blade 7 formed in the main body
5 of the right side rotor 4 and the direction of the axial flow of
the blade 7 formed in the main body 5 of the left side rotor 4 be
opposite to each other.
[0026] Regarding the shaft portions 6A and 6B, the shaft portion 6B
on the counter driving side does not protrude to the outside of the
housing 3, whereas the shaft portion 6A on the driving side
protrudes axially outward beyond the housing 3. To the shaft
portion 6A is connected a not-graphically-shown driving mechanism
for driving the rotor 4. The driving mechanism generates a
rotational driving force and inputs it to the pair of rotors 4 to
thereby rotationally drive the pair of rotors 4 in directions
opposite to each other.
[0027] The kneader 2 is enclosed by the housing 3 with respect to a
radial direction thereof, while being opened to both of the driving
side and the counter driving side with respect to the axial
direction of the rotor 4. In other words, the housing 3 has a
tubular main body portion enclosing the kneading chamber 2 while
opened in the axial direction of the rotor 4. Specifically, the
kneading chamber 2 has a shape in which a pair of cylindrical
cavities are arranged right and left in parallel to each other with
a partial overlap of respective outer circumferences of the paired
cavities. In short, the kneading chamber 2 has a section orthogonal
to the axis of the rotor 4, the section having a cocoon-shape
arranged in the right and left (width) directions.
[0028] The paired rotors 4 are provided in the paired cavities
(space), respectively, so as to make the axis of the cavity
generally coincident with the axis of each rotor 4. The paired
rotors 4 are, thus, arranged in parallel to each other and right
and left adjacent to each other in the kneading chamber 2 having
such a shape as described above. Although not graphically shown, an
opening portion opened upward is provided on an upper part of the
kneading chamber 2. Above the opening portion is provided a
material guide path which guides a material to be kneaded
vertically. Above the material guide path is provided an openable
hopper (input slot). In the above-described sealed kneader 1, a
material to be kneaded which is obtained by mixing a base material
such as rubber, plastic, or the like with an additive is input from
the hopper, and then the material is guided by the material guide
path through the opening portion to be pushed in the kneading
chamber 2.
[0029] The material to be kneaded which has been pressed in the
kneading chamber 2 is kneaded by the blades 7 of the main body 5,
the blades 7 being twisted in the same direction and rotating in
the rotation directions opposite to each other so as to sweep an
inner wall of the kneading chamber 2. The kneaded matter is
discharged to the outside of the kneading chamber 2 through a
discharge port (not shown) formed on the lower side of the kneading
chamber 2. After the kneaded matter is discharged, the discharge
port of the kneading chamber 2 is blocked and a material to be
kneaded at a next batch is input from the hopper and pressed into
the kneading chamber 2. Through the repetition of such a batch-type
kneading cycle, kneading is performed in the above-described sealed
kneader 1.
[0030] The paired supporting frames 9A and 9B support the housing 3
at opposite end portions thereof in the axis direction of the
housing 3. The frame members 9A and 9B, each being formed of a
plate member having a given thickness, are coupled to respective
end portions of the housing 3 on the driving side and the counter
driving side. Specifically, the paired frame members 9A and 9B
support the housing 3, which is opened to both of one end side and
the other end side, so as to axially close the kneading chamber 2
inside the housing 3. In short, the paired frame members 9A, 9B are
disposed so as to sandwich the kneading chamber 2 in the axial
direction.
[0031] Each of the paired frame members 9A and 9B is provided with
a pair of through-holes 10, in which the shaft portions 6A and the
shaft portions 6B of the pair of rotors 4 are inserted,
respectively. Specifically, the shaft portions 6B on the counter
driving side are inserted through the pair of through-holes 10 of
the frame member 9B positioned on the counter driving side of the
housing 3, and the shaft portions 6A on the driving side are
inserted through the pair of through-holes 10 of the frame member
9A positioned on the driving side of the housing 3. The shaft
portions 6A and 6B of each rotor 4 are, thus, arranged so as to
protrude axially from the end surfaces of the main body 5 of the
rotor 4 to the outside of the frame members 9A and 9B through the
through-holes 10 formed in the frame members 9A and 9B.
[0032] Although the kneading chamber 2 is basically enclosed by the
pair of frame members 9A and 9B and the housing 3, a small gap is
provided between the axial end surfaces of the main body 5 of each
rotor 4 disposed in the kneading chamber 2 and respective inner
surfaces of the frame members 9A and 9B, i.e., respective wall
surfaces facing the kneading chamber 2, in order to allow the main
body 5 to rotate. This generates a possibility of leak of a kneaded
matter in the kneading chamber 2 to the outside of the kneading
chamber 2 through the gap. To prevent the leak (flow-out) of a
kneaded matter through the gap, the sealed kneader 1 further
includes a plurality of dust stop devices 14.
[0033] Each of the dust stop devices 14 is disposed in the above
gap so as to interrupt communication between the inside and the
outside of the kneading chamber 2 to keep the kneading chamber 2
sealed. In such a sealed kneader 1 having the pair of rotors 4
arranged in the kneading chamber 2 as shown in FIG. 1, the dust
stop device 14 is provided to each of the axial end portions of
each rotor 4, namely, the shaft portions 6A and 6B. In summary,
according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the dust stop devices
14 are provided at a total of four positions corresponding to the
shaft portions 6A on the driving side and the shaft portions 6B on
the counter driving side of the pair of rotors 4, respectively.
[0034] In the following, description of the dust stop device 14
will be made focusing on a part enclosed in a circle II in FIG. 1.
FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view showing an expansion of the part
enclosed in the circle II and the vicinity thereof, the view
showing the entire dust stop device 14. FIG. 3 is a sectional plan
view showing an expansion of only the part enclosed in the circle
II, the view showing main parts of the dust stop device 14,
including lubricating oil supply path.
[0035] In detail, the dust stop device 14 includes a member to make
surface contact with the end surface of the main body 5 (a part
positioned in a boundary between the main body 5 and the shaft
portion 6) of the rotor 4 rotating in the kneading chamber 2, and a
member to make surface contact with the inner surface of each of
the frame members 9A and 9B which are coupled to the housing 3 and
support the shaft portions 6A and 6B of the rotor 4, i.e., the wall
surface facing the kneading chamber 2, respectively. In short, the
dust stop device 14 is disposed along respective inner
circumference surfaces of the supporting frames 9A and 9B which
surfaces enclose the through-holes 10 through which the shaft
portions 6A and 6B of the rotor 4 pass through, respectively.
[0036] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the plurality
of dust stop devices 14 are provided for the shaft portions 6A and
6B of each rotor 4, respectively. Each dust stop device 14 includes
a rotating ring 15 attached to each rotor 4 so as to rotate along
with the rotor 4 and a stationary ring 16 attached to each of the
frame members 9A and 9B constituting the supporting member. The
rotating ring 15 and the stationary ring 16 have respective contact
surfaces 17 and 19 making surface contact with each other. Involved
by the rotation of the rotor 4, the contact surfaces 17 and 19
relatively slide in the rotation direction of the rotor 4 with
close contact with each other. To the contact surfaces 17 and 19
thus sliding on each other is supplied lubricating oil for reducing
abrasion of the contact surfaces 17 and 19.
[0037] The rotating ring 15 is fixed to the axial end surface of
the main body 5 of each rotor 4 and rotates along with the rotor 4.
In the example shown in FIG. 3, the end surface of the blade 7 of
the main body 5 in the rotor 4, the part positioned most axially
outward, is formed with a ring-shaped groove around an axis
equivalent to the axis of the rotor 4, and the rotating ring 15 is
press-fitted into the ring-shaped groove. The rotating ring 15
according to the present embodiment is an annular thin plate member
having an outer diameter substantially equal to or slightly larger
than the inner diameter of the ring-shaped groove, and is attached
to the rotor 4 so as to be fitted into the ring-shaped groove.
[0038] The rotating ring 15, alternatively, can be an annular thin
plate member having an inner diameter substantially equal to or
slightly smaller than the outer diameter of each of the shaft
portions 6A and 6B to be capable of being attached to the rotor 4
so as to fit with the outer circumference surface of a proximal end
portion of the shaft portion 6 (that is, a portion adjacent to the
main body 5).
[0039] The rotating ring 15 has a radial thickness substantially
equal to that of the stationary ring 16 which will be described
later. The rotating ring 15 and the stationary ring 16 according to
the embodiment have respective inner diameters and outer diameters
substantially equal to each other. Besides, the rotating ring 15
has an axial length (thickness) enough to securely block the
gap.
[0040] The stationary ring 16 is attached to each of the frame
members 9A and 9B so as to rotate relatively to the rotating ring
15 and so as to lie along the inner circumference surface enclosing
the through-holes 10 in the supporting frames 9A and 9B. The
stationary ring 16 is located so as to be axially opposed to the
rotating ring 15 attached to the end surface of the main body 5 of
the rotor 4. Specifically, the stationary ring 16 is disposed such
that the contact surface 19 of the stationary ring 16 and the
contact surface 17 of the rotating ring 15 make surface contact
with each other with their axial opposition.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 3, the stationary ring 16 is an annular
thin plate member having an outer diameter substantially equal to
or slightly larger than the inner diameter of the through-hole 10
to be attached to each of the frame members 9A and 9B so as to be
fitted into the through-hole 10. In short, the stationary ring 16
is press-fitted into the through-hole 10 formed in each of the
frame members 9A and 9B.
[0042] The stationary ring 16 according to the embodiment is not
completely fixed to each of the frame members 9A and 9B but is
attached to each of the frame members 9A and 9B so as to be
displaceable in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the
rotor 4 in the through-hole 10.
[0043] The sealed kneader 1 according to the embodiment further
includes a pressing-force applying mechanism 13. The pressing-force
applying mechanism 13 presses the stationary ring 16 attached to
the frame member 9A or 9B as described above in a direction from
the outside toward the inside of the kneading chamber 2, thereby
bringing the contact surface 19 of the stationary ring 16 and the
contact surface 17 of the rotating ring 15 into close contact with
each other to more securely maintain the sealed state of the
kneading chamber 2.
[0044] The pressing-force applying mechanism 13 includes a lever
24, a restraining tool 26, a pressing cylinder 28, and a pressing
member 30. The lever 24 is disposed so as to extend radially of the
rotor 4, having an inner end portion fixed to the frame member 9 at
a position close to the axis of the rotor 4 and an outer end
portion opposite to the inner end portion. The restraining tool 26
has a bolt and a nut; the bolt is disposed so as to make contact
with the outer surface of each of the frame members 9A and 9B in a
posture of passing through an intermediate part of the lever 24
while extending along the axial direction of the rotor 4; the nut
is attached to the bolt to restrain the intermediate part of the
lever 24 from outside. The pressing cylinder 28 has a cylinder main
body attached to the outer end portion of the lever 24 and a rod
displaceable in an expansion and contraction direction parallel to
the axial direction of the rotor 4, the rod being attached to the
supporting frames 9A, 9B. The pressing cylinder 28 displaces the
outer end portion of the lever 24, through the extension of the
rod, in a direction of separating the outer end portion from the
supporting frame 9A or 9B, thereby displacing the inner end portion
of the lever 24 in a pressing direction which is a direction of
rendering the outer end portion to approach the supporting frame 9A
or 9B. The pressing member 30 is interposed between the inner end
portion of the lever 24 and the stationary ring 16 to press the
contact surface 19 of the stationary ring 16 against the contact
surface 17 of the rotating ring 15 with the displacement of the
inner end portion in the pressing direction. Besides, the pressing
member 30 is engaged with the stationary ring 16 to thereby hinder
the stationary ring 16 from rotation in the same direction as that
of the rotating ring 15.
[0045] The specific constitution of the pressing-force applying
mechanism 13 is not limited. Moreover, the stationary ring 16 also
can be completely fixed to each of the frame members 9A and 9B so
as to allow a pressing-force applying mechanism to be omitted.
[0046] Each of the dust stop devices 14 includes at least one
lubricating-oil supply portion 20. The lubricating-oil supply
portion 20 is provided in the stationary ring 16 to supply
lubricating oil to the whole of the contact surface 19 of the
stationary ring 16 and the whole of the contact surface 17 of the
rotating ring 15, the contact surface 17 sliding relatively to the
contact surface 19. The shape of the lubricating-oil supply portion
can be variably determined. Next will be described a first example
and a second example regarding the specific shape of the
lubricating-oil supply portion 20, with reference to FIG. 4 and
FIG. 5, respectively.
[0047] FIG. 4 is a front view showing the stationary ring 16
including the lubricating-oil supply portion 20 according to the
first example. The stationary ring 16 shown in FIG. 4 has a
plurality of, specifically a total of six, lubricating-oil supply
portions 20. The plurality of lubricating-oil supply portions 20 is
circumferentially spaced at an equal interval in a front view. The
plurality of lubricating-oil supply portions 20, however, also may
be spaced at an uneven interval taking account of the flow of
lubricating oil caused by centrifugal force due to rotation of the
rotor 4. The stationary ring 16 only has to include at least one
lubricating-oil supply portion 20; the number of the
lubricating-oil supply portions 20 can be three, for example.
[0048] The lubricating-oil supply portion 20 is formed of a
through-hole providing communication between the contact surface 19
of the stationary ring 16, which makes surface contact with the
contact surface 17 of the rotating ring 15, and an outer surface 18
which is an axial end surface opposite to the contact surface 17.
To the lubricating-oil supply portion 20 is connected a
lubricating-oil supply device. The lubricating-oil supply device
includes, for example, a not-graphically-shown pressure lubricator,
lubricating oil supply pipe 11 connected to the pressure
lubricator, and a supply nozzle 12 connected to the lubricating oil
supply pipe 11. In the structure shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the
supply nozzle 12 is disposed so as to axially pass through the
pressing member 30, the front end portion of the supply nozzle 12
being inserted from the outer surface 18 into an inlet part (a left
side part in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3) of the through-hole constituting
the lubricating-oil supply portion 20.
[0049] An outlet part of the through-hole constituting the
lubricating-oil supply portion 20, the outlet part including at
least an opening in the contact surface 19, is a long hole
extending in a circumferential direction of rotation of the
rotating ring 15. The "long hole" in the present invention
encompasses not only a long hole as shown in FIG. 4 but also a
"slit-shaped hole" and an "elongated groove" extending in the
circumferential direction of rotation. The longitudinal direction
of the long hole constituting the lubricating-oil supply portion 20
is, thus, a direction along the direction of the tangent to the
circumference of the stationary ring 16. Hereinafter, the
longitudinal direction of the long hole is also referred to as a
length direction, and a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal
direction of the long hole is also referred to as a width direction
of the long hole.
[0050] In other words, the long hole constituting the
lubricating-oil supply portion 20 shown in FIG. 4 has such a shape
that the length direction of the long hole is coincident with a
rotation tangent direction which is the direction of the tangent to
the rotational direction of the rotating ring 15 at an intermediate
position with respect to the length direction of the long hole,
i.e., the direction indicated by the arrow Ar in FIG. 4. Therefore,
the radial distance from the center of the rotating ring 15 to one
end portion 21 in the length direction of the long hole is equal to
the radial distance from the center of the rotating ring 15 to the
other end portion 22 in the length direction of the long hole.
[0051] The lubricating-oil supply portion 20 shown in FIG. 4 is
provided, in the radial direction of the stationary ring 16, at a
position generally intermediate between the inner circumference and
the outer circumference of the stationary ring 16. Besides, the
supply nozzle 12 disposed rearward of the lubricating-oil supply
portion 20 is provided, in a front view of the stationary ring 16,
at a central part of the long hole in the length direction and at a
central part in the width direction. This position of the provided
supply nozzle 12 is one example.
[0052] The lubricating-oil supply portion 20 has respective spaces
positioned at right and left sides of the supply nozzle 12, i.e.,
at the both sides of the long hole in the length direction, that
is, a left side part of the long hole on the contact surface 17 (a
part including the end 21 on the downstream side of the rotating
ring 15 in the rotation direction) and a right side part (a part
including the end 22 on the upstream side of the rotating ring 15
in the rotation direction) in a view from the front as shown in
FIG. 4, the spaces constituting a storage portion 23 which is a
space for temporarily storing lubricating oil, namely, an oil
reservation portion.
[0053] The lubricating-oil supply portion 20 only has to include a
part (outlet part) including at least an opening (i.e. outlet) in
the contact surface 17 of the stationary ring 16, the part being a
long hole extending in the length direction; for example, the
lubricating-oil supply portion 20 may include a part (inlet part)
including an opening (i.e. inlet) in the outer surface 18 of the
stationary ring 16, the part being not a long hole. The inlet part
may be a simple round hole. Alternatively, the entire
lubricating-oil supply portion 20 may be a long hole extending in
the length direction over the thickness direction of the stationary
ring 16 (the direction parallel to the axial direction of the rotor
4).
[0054] As described in the foregoing, the through-hole constituting
the lubricating-oil supply portion 20 provided in the stationary
ring 16, having a part which includes at least the opening in the
contact surface 17 and is a long hole extending along the
circumferential direction of the rotation of the rotating ring 15,
allows lubricating oil supplied from the supply nozzle 12 to be
temporarily stored in the storage portion 23 of the long hole,
i.e., in the parts positioned at both sides of the supply nozzle
12, thereby enabling supply of lubricating oil to the contact
surfaces 19 and 17 of the stationary ring 16 and the rotating ring
15 to be enhanced.
[0055] FIG. 5 is a front view showing the stationary ring 16
including the lubricating-oil supply portion 20 according to the
second example. The following description will be made mainly
focusing on the lubricating-oil supply portion 20 positioned at an
upper most part on the sheet of FIG. 5. Since the configuration of
the lubricating-oil supply portion 20 according to the second
example shown in FIG. 5 is the same as that of the lubricating-oil
supply portion 20 according to the first example shown in FIG. 4,
except for a shape of the lubricating-oil supply portion 20 in a
front view, the description thereon is omitted. For example,
although the stationary ring 16 shown in FIG. 5 also has a total of
six lubricating-oil supply portions 20 spaced circumferentially at
an equal interval, the stationary ring 16 only has to have at least
one (e.g. three) lubricating-oil supply portion 20, the number and
the position of the lubricating-oil supply portions 20 are not
limited. For example, the plurality of lubricating-oil supply
portions 20 may be spaced at an unequal interval taking account of
a flow of lubricating oil caused by a centrifugal force of rotation
of the rotor 4.
[0056] Similarly to the first example, the lubricating-oil supply
portion 20 according to the second example shown in FIG. 5 is also
a through-hole which provides communication between the contact
surface 17 of the stationary ring 16 and a surface opposite to the
contact surface 17, namely, the outer surface 18, in which an
outlet part including at least an opening in the contact surface 17
of the stationary ring 16 is a long hole. Furthermore, in the
lubricating-oil supply portion 20 according to the second example,
differently from the first example, the length direction of the
long hole is inclined to a rotation tangent direction, which is the
direction of the tangent to the rotation of the rotating ring 15 at
an intermediate position of the long hole in the length direction,
such that the long hole approaches the inner circumference of the
stationary ring 16 (that is, the long hole is displaced inward in
the radial direction of the rotation) with an advance to the
downstream side in the rotational direction.
[0057] Specifically, in the case where the rotation direction of
the rotating ring 15 is a direction from the right side to the left
side in the sheet of FIG. 5 (namely, counterclockwise direction) as
indicated by the arrow Ar in FIG. 5, the length direction of the
long hole is inclined at an inclination angle .alpha. to the
rotation tangent direction of the rotating ring 16 at the
intermediate position in the length direction of the long hole,
such that the left end of the long hole constituting the
lubricating-oil supply portion 20 (namely, the downstream end 21 in
the rotation direction) is positioned so as to be close to the
inner circumference of the stationary ring 16 than the right end
(the upstream end 22 in the rotation direction) thereof. Therefore,
the radial distance from the center of the rotating ring 15 to one
end of the long hole (the downstream end 21 in the rotation
direction) is larger than the radial distance from the center of
the rotating ring 15 to the other end of the long hole (the
upstream end 22 in the rotation direction).
[0058] As above, "the length direction of the long hole is a
direction along the circumferential direction of the rotation of
the rotating ring 15" also encompasses a case where the length
direction is inclined, as shown in FIG. 5, to the rotation tangent
direction. In other words, the long hole constituting the
lubricating-oil supply portion 20 as shown in FIG. 5 has such a
shape that the long hole gradually shifts from the outer
circumference side to the inner circumference side of the
stationary ring 16 with an advance in the rotational direction of
the rotating ring 15 along the circumferential direction of the
rotation of the rotating ring 15.
[0059] The inclination angle .alpha., i.e., the angle that the axis
of the long hole in the length direction forms with the rotation
tangent direction of the rotating ring 15 at the intermediate
position of the long hole in the length direction, is preferably
larger than 0.degree. and equal to or smaller than 45.degree., in
consideration with an area of supply of lubricating oil to the
contact surfaces 17 and 19. Furthermore, in consideration with the
shape of the stationary ring 16 as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the
inclination angle .alpha. is preferably larger than 0.degree. and
equal to or smaller than 25.degree..
[0060] In the second example shown in FIG. 5, the supply nozzle 12
is disposed at a position closer to the right end, when the contact
surface 17 of the stationary ring 16 is seen from the front (the
upstream end 22 in the rotation direction), than the central
position of the long hole. Therefore, in the long hole constituting
the lubricating-oil supply portion 20, the part downstream of the
supply nozzle in the rotation direction, i.e., the part from the
middle part in the longitudinal direction to the left end (the
downstream end 21 in the rotation direction) forms a storage
portion 23 (oil reservation portion) for temporarily storing
lubricating oil. This position of the provided supply nozzle 12 in
the lubricating-oil supply portion 20 is also one example.
[0061] In this second example, a part of the lubricating oil
supplied from the supply nozzle 12 is flowed outward radially of
the rotation of the rotating ring 15 from the right end of the
lubricating-oil supply portion 20, i.e., from the upstream end 22
in the rotation direction in FIG. 5 by the centrifugal force caused
by the rotation of the rotating ring 15, thereby lubricating the
respective contact surfaces 17 and 19 of the rotating ring 15 and
the stationary ring 16. The remaining lubricating oil is flowed
toward the inner circumference of the stationary ring 16 along the
long hole and temporarily stored in the storage portion 23,
lubricating the contact surfaces 19 and 17 on the inner
circumference side of the stationary ring 16 and the rotating ring
15.
[0062] Hence, it is preferable that the length direction of the
long hole constituting the lubricating-oil supply portion 20 is
inclined to the rotation tangent direction of the rotating ring 15
at the intermediate position of the long hole in the length
direction such that the long hole is displaced inward in the radial
direction of the rotation of the rotating ring 15 with an advance
in the rotation direction of the rotating ring 15. This enables
lubricating oil to be supplied in a wider region of the contact
surfaces 17 and 19.
[0063] Also in the second example, the lubricating-oil supply
portion 20 only has to an outlet part including at least an opening
(i.e. outlet) in the contact surface 17 of the stationary ring 16,
the outlet part being a long hole extending in the length
direction; for example, the lubricating-oil supply portion 20 may
include an inlet part including an opening in the outer surface 18
of the stationary ring 16 (namely, inlet), the inlet part being not
a long hole. The inlet part may be a simple round hole.
Alternatively, the entire lubricating-oil supply portion 20 may be
formed of a long hole extending in the length direction over the
thickness direction of the stationary ring 16 (the direction
parallel to the axial direction of the rotor 4).
[0064] Next will be made description about functions and effects of
the lubricating-oil supply portions 20 according to the first and
second examples, on the basis of the result of an abrasion test of
the stationary ring 16 shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 includes marks each
indicated by .tangle-solidup. which represent a result of an
abrasion test conducted with respect to the first example, marks
each indicated by .box-solid. which represent a result of the
abrasion test conducted with respect to the second example, and
marks each indicated by .diamond-solid. which represent a result of
an abrasion test conducted with respect to a comparative example in
which the long hole constituting the lubricating-oil supply portion
20 is inclined, in the direction opposite to that in the second
example, to the rotation tangent direction of the rotating ring 15
at the intermediate position of the long hole in the length
direction.
[0065] As indicated by .tangle-solidup. in FIG. 6, the amount of
abrasion of the stationary ring 16 according to the first example
when the lubricating oil is supplied at a flow rate of about 0.05
(cc/sec) is about 4.5 .mu.m, the amount of abrasion of the
stationary ring 16 when the lubricating oil is supplied at a flow
rate of about 0.11 (cc/sec) is about 3.8 .mu.m, and the amount of
abrasion of the stationary ring 16 when the lubricating oil is
supplied at a flow rate of about 0.22 (cc/sec) is about 3.9 .mu.m.
Thus, in the case where the long hole constituting the
lubricating-oil supply portion 20 has the shape shown in FIG. 4,
the amount of abrasion of the stationary ring 16 is kept in the
neighborhood of 4 .mu.m, which shows that an abrasion reduction
effect is exhibited.
[0066] As indicated by .tangle-solidup. in FIG. 6, the amount of
abrasion of the stationary ring 16 according to the second example
when the lubricating oil is supplied at a flow rate of about 0.05
(cc/sec) is about 1.9 .mu.m, the amount of abrasion of the
stationary ring 16 when the lubricating oil is supplied at a flow
rate of about 0.11 (cc/sec) is about 1 .mu.m, and the amount of
abrasion of the stationary ring 16 when the lubricating oil is
supplied at a flow rate of about 0.22 (cc/sec) is about 0.8 .mu.m.
Thus, in the case where the long hole constituting the
lubricating-oil supply portion 20 has the shape shown in FIG. 5,
the amount of abrasion of the stationary ring 16 is kept less than
2 .mu.m, which shows that the amount of abrasion is further reduced
than in the first example.
[0067] In contrast, as indicated by .diamond-solid. in FIG. 6, in
the comparative example, i.e. in the example where the length
direction of the long hole constituting the lubricating-oil supply
portion 20 is inclined, in the direction opposite to that in the
second example, to the rotation tangent direction of the rotating
ring 15 at the intermediate position of the long hole in the length
direction, the amount of abrasion of the stationary ring 16 when
the lubricating oil is supplied at a flow rate of about 0.05
(cc/sec) is about 10.3 .mu.m, the amount of abrasion of the
stationary ring 16 when the lubricating oil is supplied at a flow
rate of about 0.11 (cc/sec) is about 12 .mu.m, and the amount of
abrasion of the stationary ring 16 when the lubricating oil is
supplied at a flow rate of about 0.22 (cc/sec) is about 11.5 .mu.m.
Thus, in the comparative example, the amount of abrasion of the
stationary ring 16 exceeds 10 .mu.m. This shows that the
lubricating-oil supply portions 20 according to the first and
second examples produce an extremely excellent abrasion reduction
effect even compared with the lubricating-oil supply portion 20
according to the comparative example.
[0068] As above, the lubricating-oil supply portion 20 thus having
such a shape as in the comparative example may allow the
centrifugal force caused by rotation of the rotating ring 15 to
flow almost all the lubricating oil supplied to the contact surface
19 to outside of the two sliding rings 15 and 16 to thereby cause
oil shortage. In particular, it seems hard to supply the
lubricating oil to the side of the inner circumference of the
stationary ring 16.
[0069] In other words, the shape of the long hole of the
lubricating-oil supply portion 20 according to the comparative
example may bring the two rings 15 and 16 into heavy abrasion.
[0070] The embodiments disclosed in the foregoing are all for
illustrative purpose only in any respect and are not to be
construed as limiting. For example, the shape of the long hole
constituting the lubricating-oil supply portion 20 is not limited
to a so-called straight shape having a fixed length direction to
extend linearly as a whole as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. The shape
of the long hole, alternatively, can be one having a length
direction varying with a position of the long hole, such as an arc
or a boomerang, for example. Besides, the long hole can include a
part other than a part extending along the circumferential
direction of rotation. For example, the long hole can be given an
L-shape cranked at an intermediate position thereof.
[0071] In particular, in the embodiments disclosed in the
foregoing, not explicitly disclosed matters, for example, running
conditions and operation conditions, various parameters, and a
size, a weight and a volume of a component are within the general
skill of a person skilled in the art, for which values that can be
easily conceived by those skilled in the art are adopted.
[0072] As described in the foregoing, a dust stop device for a
sealed kneader is provided, the device including a stationary ring
and a rotating ring which have respective contact surfaces making
contact with each other and being capable of excellent supply of
lubricating oil to the contact surfaces. Provided is a dust stop
device provided in a batch-type sealed kneader including a pair of
rotors and a support member, the pair of rotors disposed adjacent
to each other with a predetermined gap therebetween so as to have
respective axes parallel to each other and being capable of
rotating in opposite directions to each other, the supporting
member including a housing that houses the pair of rotors and
rotatably supporting axially opposite end portions of each of the
pair of rotors, the dust stop device being interposed between each
rotor and the supporting member to prevent a matter kneaded by the
pair of rotors from leaking outside, the dust stop device including
a rotating ring attached to the rotor so as to rotate with the
rotor and a stationary ring attached to the supporting member. The
stationary ring and the rotating ring have respective contact
surfaces which make surface contact with each other while being
opposed to each other. The stationary ring has a lubricating-oil
supply portion which supplies lubricating oil to the respective
contact surfaces of the stationary ring and the rotating ring. The
lubricating-oil supply portion has a through-hole which provides
communication between the contact surface of the stationary ring
and a surface opposite to the contact surface. At least a part of
the through-hole, the part including an opening in the contact
surface, is a long hole which extends along a circumferential
direction of the rotation of the rotating ring. The long hole has a
longitudinal direction that is coincident with a rotation tangent
direction of the rotating ring or inclined to the rotation tangent
direction such that the long hole is displaced inward in a radial
direction of the rotation of the rotating ring with an advance in a
rotational direction of the rotating ring, the rotation tangent
direction being a direction of a tangent to the rotational
direction of the rotating ring at an intermediate position of the
long hole with respect to the longitudinal direction of the long
hole.
[0073] This dust stop device, which allows lubricating oil supplied
to the lubricating-oil supply portion to move in the
circumferential direction of the rotation of the rotating ring
along the longitudinal direction of the long hole, enables the
lubricating oil to be supplied in a wider region of the respective
contact surfaces of the stationary ring and the rotating ring
irrespective of centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the
rotating ring.
[0074] The longitudinal direction of the long hole is, preferably,
inclined to the rotation tangent direction such that the long hole
is displaced inwardly in the radial direction of the rotation of
the rotating ring with an advance in the rotation direction of the
rotating ring. This allows the lubricating oil supplied to the
lubricating-oil supply portion to be shifted inwardly in the radial
direction of the rotation of the rotating ring irrespective of the
centrifugal force, thereby enabling the lubricating oil to be
supplied in a wider region.
[0075] In this case, it is preferable that the position at which
the lubricating oil is supplied to the lubricating-oil supply
portion is a position upstream of the intermediate position in the
length direction of the long hole, in the rotation direction of the
rotating ring. This makes it possible to increase a part of the
long hole, the part being usable as a storage portion for
temporarily storing the lubricating oil supplied as described
above.
[0076] The longitudinal direction of the long hole constituting the
lubricating-oil supply portion, alternatively, may be coincident
with the rotation tangent direction of the rotating ring at the
intermediate position in the longitudinal direction of the long
hole.
[0077] The specific shape of the long hole of the lubricating-oil
supply portion is not particularly limited. The shape may be, for
example, a straight-shape, arc-shape, boomerang-shape, or
L-shape.
[0078] Besides, also provided is a sealed kneader including: a pair
of rotors arranged adjacent to each other with a predetermined gap
therebetween so as to have respective axes parallel to each other
and capable of rotating in opposite directions to each other; a
supporting member including a housing that houses the pair of
rotors and supporting axially opposite end portions of the pair of
rotors rotatably; and the dust stop device interposed between each
rotor and the supporting member to prevent a matter kneaded by the
pair of rotors from leaking to the outside of the supporting
member.
* * * * *